Apparatus for dechocking and chocking mill rolls



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March 12., 1963 L. D. WARREN APPARATUS Foa DEcHocKING AND cHocKING MILL RoLLs Filed May 11, 1961 March 12, 1963 L. D. WARREN 3,080,647

APPARATUS FOR DECHOCKING AND CHOCKING` MLL ROLLS Filed May l1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aller/rey R N mm. NR W0. M QQ W L Nw. l wm mm I I I I Q N\ II I I .S m l IIIIIIIIII IHIIlIInIH H .l l. f k\ March l2, 1963 L.. D. WARREN APPARATUS FOR DECHOCKING AND CHOCKING MILL ROLLS Filed May l1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /NVENTR LOYAL D. WARREN A/forney L. D. WARREN March 12, 1963 APPARATUS FOR DECHOCKING AND CHOCKING MILL ROLLS .lersey Filed May 11, '1961, Ser. No. 169,285 1l Claims. (Cl. 29-252) This invention relates to apparatus for removing the checks and the coupling from mill rolls and replacing them thereon.

It is necessary to change the work-rolls of metalrolling mills from time to time, to permit redressing of the roll bodies when they have become worn and roughened in use. The rolls are ordinarily removed from the mill housings with the coupling on the drive end and both bearing chocks on the roll necks. The coupling and chocks must then be removed from the rollbefore redressing can be started. This t-ask is usuall performed by the aid of an overhead crane but is difficult, awkward and time-consuming. It is accordingly the object of my invention to provide apparatus for easily, quickly and efficiently removingthe coupling and chocks from a demounted roll and for similarly replacing them on a redressed roll thereby making it ready to go back in the mill.

In a preferred embodiment, my apparatus comprises a conveyor having saddles spaced therealong adapted to receive rolls disposed transversely of the conveyor, and opposed coaxial chock carriages, movable transversely of the conveyor, one on each side thereof. Each carri-age has a 'chock-receiving lift thereon, movable vertically and provided with means for binding thereto the chock on one of the necks of a roll alined with the carriages. One of the carriages has a coupling carriage movable thereon provided with pulling means engageable with the coupling on the drive end of the roll, and spaced coupling-supporting rollers, whereby the coupling may be pulled before the chocks are removed. 'The other carriage has rollbumping means thereon for dislodging sticking chocks if such condition should occur. Both carriages are fitted with wheels traveling along rails normal to the path of the conveyor and are provided with power means for reciprocating them.

A complete understanding 4of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

FIGURES la, lb and lc together constitute a plan view;

FIGURE 2 is a partial vertical section taken along the plane of line II-II of FIGURE 1b;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the plane of line III-III of FIGURES la and lc with parts omitted;

FIGURE 4 is a section through the coupling Iand chock handling carriage taken along the plane of line IV-IV of FIGURE la;

' FIGURE 5 is a portion of FIGURE la, viz., the coupling carriage, to enlarged scale;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation thereof; and

FIGURE 7 is a section therethrough taken along the plane of line VII- VIVI of FIGURE 5, with parts shown in elevation.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present, particularly to FIGURES la, lb, lc and 2, my dechocking and cho-cking apparatus includes la convey-or 10 composed of spaced chains 1l trained around head sprockets l2 and tail sprockets 13 secured to head shaft ice 12 and tail shaft 13. The chains 11 are made up of links 14 and 14 with roll saddles l5 at intervals therealong. The links and saddles have supporting rollers 16 journaled on their link pins. The conveyor is installed in a pit 17 and beams I8 bridging the pit support rails 19 on which the rollers of the link and saddles of the upper runs of the chains travel. The rollers of the lower runs travel on rails Ztl in pit 17. Sprockets l2 are driven in such direction as to advance the chains from left to right by a motor 2l through a speed reducer 22 and gearing 23. Worn rolls with chocks thereon and redressed rolls ready for replacement of chocks thereon are deposited alternately in successive pairs of alined saddles 15 by an overhead crane. In FIGURE 3 is shown in chain lines so disposed, a roll 24 having a chock 25 on eac-h neck and a coupling 26 on the drive end.

Dechocking and checking carriages 27 and 27 are coaxially disposed, one on each side of conveyor l0, for travel from and toward the latter. For this movement, the carriages yare fitted with wheels 23 traveling on rails 29. As shown in FIGURE 3, the carriages are generally similar in construction (with certain exceptions which will be pointed out later) so a description of one will largely suice. Each includes a box frame 30 fabricated from plate, having a motor-mounting bracket 31 on the outer end thereof and incorporating a tank 32. A motor 33 on the bracket drives a pump 34 which delivers liquid under pressure from tank 32 to various hydraulic-power means on the carriage. For the sake of clarity, the pipe connections between such means and the pump Iand tank have been omitted from the drawings as Well as the flexible cables for supplying electric power to the motor.

Movement of carriage 27 along rails 29 is effected by a fluid-pressure cylinder 35 mounted below the frame and having its piston rod 36 connected to a fixed anchorage 37. Cylinder 35, and auxiliary devices operated by hydraulic pressure, to be described later, are controlled by valves 38 easily accessible to an operator standing on platform 39 and riding on the carriage.

At its inner end, the carriage frame has spaced Walls 4f) (FIGURE 4) and 4l (FIGURE 3) defining a box or socket in which a chock lift 42 is vertically reciprocable. The lift has a platform 43 and a depending skirt with walls 44 sliding Within walls 49 and 4l. A fluid-pressure cyclinder 45 is mounted on bars 46 extending between walls 4l. The piston rod of the cylinder has a rounded head 47 engaging a bearing pad 48 on the bottom of the platform. Thus the lift is wholly incorporated in the carriage and forms an integral part thereof.

On one side of each carriage adjacent lift 42, a crosshead 49 (FIGURE 4) is reciprocable vertically in ways 50 by a fluid-pressure cylinder 51. A flexible strap 52 is connected at one end to a fixed anchorage 53 on one side of platform 43 and is adapted to hold a chock 25 thereon. The other end of the strap has chain links 54 thereon for adjustable and releasable connection to a fork 55 on crosshead 49. When the strap has been placed about a chock resting on pads 43' on platform 43 and the links 54 engaged with fork 55, operation of cylinder 5l to pull the crosshead down tightens the strap about the chock `and binds it firmly to the lift platform 43.

Carriages 27 and 27 are substantially identical in respect to the details described above. They differ in that carriage 27 has a coupling-pulling carriage 56 thereon and carriage 27' has a roll bumper 57 thereon. Bumper 57 consists of a deck 5S elevated above tank 32 on which a hammer 59 is slidable in a bearing 6i?. A fluid-pressure cylinder 61 is secured on deck 58 in alinement with the hammer for actuating it into engagement with the end of a roll on conveyor 10.

Coupling-pulling carriage 56 comprises a wheeled frame 62 fabricated from plate traveling on rails 63 secured on tank 32 of carriage 27. Carriage 56 has spaced side Walls 62 and is actuated to and fro on carriage 27 by means of a fluid-pressure cylinder 64 mounted on a bracket 65 above tank 32 and overhanging motor 33. The piston rod of cylinder 64 is pivoted to a plate 66 upstanding in frame 62 and secured to a vertical transverse wall 67 of frame 62 (FIGURES 5 and 6). A nut block 66a is set in wall 67 and secured to it and plate 66. A bearing disc 68 has a central screw threaded into a tapped hole in block 66a and has studs 69 projecting rearwardly from its periphery to facilitate manual rotation. Coupling-engaging hooks 70 fit loosely in slots in wall 67 and are held therein by keys 71.

Frame 62 has spaced transverse walls 72 extending between side walls 62. Coupling-supporting rollers 73 are journaled in bases 74 slidable on walls 72. A scew shafts 75 (FIGURE 7) extends through nuts 76 depending from bases 74 and has oppositely threaded portions engaging them. The shaft is journaled in bearings 77 and 77' and extends outwardly of frame 62 through the hub of a hand wheel 79 journaled in one wall 62. A hand wheel 80 is mounted on the end of shaft 75. Bearing 77 is fixed to an inner frame '78. Bearing 77 is also mounted on frame 7S. The hub of wheel 79 is threaded into a tapped socket S1 secured to the frame 78 and is journaled in a thrust bearing 82 in wall 62. Thus rotation of wheel 79 moves both bases in the same direction for centering and rotation of wheel St moves bases 74 toward and from each other for spacing adjustment.

The operation of my appapartus will probably be apparent but will now be brieily summarized. When worn and redressed rolls have been placed in successive saddles 15, conveyor 10 is advanced until the worn roll with a coupling and chocks thereon is alined with carriages 27 and 27'. These carriages will, of course, be in retracted postions with lifts 42 lowered and carriage 56 retracted. Carriages 27 and 27 are then advanced toward the roll and carriage 56 is advanced toward coupling 26 with hooks 70 spread. When rollers 73 are beneath the coupling, they are adjusted for spacing, hooks 70 are engaged therewith and disc 68 is spun to screw it inwardly into engagement with the coupling end. Thereafter carriage 56 is retracted to pull the coupling off of the drive end of the roll while supported on rollers 73.

Lifts 42 are then raised until pads 43' engage chocks 25. Straps 52 are laid over the chocks, chain links 54 engaged with forks 55 and cylinders 51 operated to tighten the straps. Carriages 27 and 27 are then retracted from their positions adjacent conveyor 10, pulling the chocks from the roll necks. If sticking of either chock occurs, a blow on the end of the roll neck by hammer 59 is usually suicient to loosen it. When the carriages 27 and 27' have been retracted so that the chocks clear the ends of the roll, the latter may be lifted by an overhead crane and transported to a redressing lathe.

Conveyor 10 is next advanced to bring the redressed roll thereon in line with carriages 27 and 27. By a reverse sequence of the operations described above, chocks 25 and coupling 26 are placed on the redressed roll and it is then ready to be installed in the mill by an overhead crane.

It will be evident from the foregoing that my invention provides apparatus well adapted to overcome the diculties and danger heretofore experienced in dechocking and checking rolls. Both chocks and the coupling are withdrawn by a straight pull and replaced by an axial thrust. The apparatus, furthermore, is simple yet sutliciently powerful to handle the chocks of the largest rolls to be redressed. Each of the carriages 27 and 27 is self contained except for the electric-power supply. The carriages and conveyor are easily controlled with the necessary precision.

Although I have disclose-d herein the preferred embodi ment of my invention, I intend to cover as well any change or modification therein which may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. The combination with a conveyor saddles spaced therealong, adapted to support rolling-mill rolls disposed transversely of the conveyor with their necks overhanging,

of means for pulling a bearing chock from the neck at one end of a roll so disposed, including a carriage movable toward and from said conveyor from a location at one side thereof,

power means for reciprocating said carriage,

a vertically movable chock supporting platform on said carriage, power means for raising and lowering said platform, and

means for securing a chock to said platform whereby retraction of the carriage serves to pull the chock so secured from the roll neck.

2. The combination with l a conveyor having saddles spaced therealong, adapted to support rolling-mill rolls disposed transversely of the conveyor with their necks overhanging,

of means for pulling a bearing chock from the neck at one end of a roll so disposed, including a carriage movable toward and from said conveyor from a location at one side thereof,

power means for reciprocating said carriage,

chock-supporting means on said carriage and means for securing a chock to said supporting means whereby retraction of the carriage serves to pull the chock so secured for the roll neck, said securing means including a tensions band, a cross-head reciprocable on said carriage for tightening said band and power means for actuating said crosshead.

3. The combination defined in claim l, characterized by said securing means including flexible means for binding a chock to said platform and power means for actuating said binding means.

4. The combination defined in claim l, characterized by said securing means including a cross-head reciprocable on said carriage.

5. The combination dened in claim 1, characterized by a skirt depending from said platform and a socket iu` said carriage slidably receiving said skirt.

6. The combination with a conveyor having saddles spaced therealong, adapted to support rolling-mill rolls disposed transversely of the conveyor with their necks overhanging,

of means for pulling a bearing chock from the neck at one end of a roll so disposed, including a carriage movable toward and from said conveyor from a location at one side thereof,

power means for reciprocating said carriage,

chock-supporting means on said carriage, and

means for securing a chock to said supporting means whereby retraction of the carriage serves to pull the chock so secured from the roll neck, said chockysupporting means including a vertically movable platform and power means for raising and lowering it.

7. 'Ihe combination with a conveyor having saddles spaced therealong, adapted to support rolling-mill rolls disposed transversely of the conveyor with their necks overhanging,

of means of pulling a bearing chock from the neck at one end of a roll so disposed including a carriage movable toward and from said conveyor from a location at one side thereof,

power means for reciprocating said carriage,

chock-supporting means on said carriage, and

means for securing a chock to said supporting means whereby retraction of the carriage serves to pull the chock so secured from the roll neck, a hammer reciprocably mounted on said carriage adapted for striking one end of a roll on said conveyor and power means for actuating the hammer.

8. Mill-roll dechocking and checking apparatus comprising a conveyor, saddles spaced along the conveyor adapted to receive mill rolls disposed transversely on the conveyor,

a pair of rails on each side of the conveyor normal thereto,

carriages, one on each side of the conveyor traveling on said pairs of rails, respectively,

power means for moving each carriage toward and from the conveyor,

a chock lift on the end of each carriage adjacent said conveyor, each lift being wholly incorporated in its carriage and forming an integral part thereof,

power means for raising and lowering said lifts, and

means for securing to each lift a chock for removal from or placement on one end of a roll disposed on one of said saddles when the conveyor is stopped with said last-mentioned roll in alinement with said carriages.

9. Apparatus as dened in claim 8, characterized by a coupling-pulling carriage movable along one of said iirst-mentioned carriages, power means for moving said coupling-pulling carriage, coupling supporting means on said coupling-pulling carriage and coupling-engaging hooks on said coupling-pulling carriage extending above said coupling supporting means.

10. Apparatus for removing and replacing mill-roll drive couplings comprising a conveyor adapted to support a roll disposed transversely thereon with its necks projecting laterally from the conveyor, -a coupling-pulling carriage movable toward and from the conveyor along a path normall thereto, coupling-receiving means on said carriage, a transverse plate upstanding on said carriage, a pair of coupling-pulling hooks projecting from said plate toward the conveyor above said means, and power means for reciprocating said carriage, said coupling-receiving means being a pair of parallel rollers mounted for movement transversely of said path.

11. Apparatus for removing and replacing mill-roll drive couplings comprising a conveyor adapted to support a roll disposed transversely thereon with its necks projecting laterally from the conveyor, a coupling-pull ing carriage movable toward and from the conveyor along a path normal thereto, coupling-receiving means on said carriage, a transverse plate upstanding on said carriage, a pair 4of: coupling-pulling hooks projecting from said plate toward the conveyor above said means, a bearing disc between said hooks, means mounting said disc on said plate for movement relative to said carriage along said path, and power means for reciprocating said carriage.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the tile of this patent 759,360 Flagler May 10, 1904 1,094,978 Church Apr. 28, 1914 1,292,429 Bull Ian. 28, 1919 1,865,420 Kick June 28, 1932 1,924,740 Harry et al. Aug. 29, 1933 2,401,592 Von Stocker June 4, 1946 2,696,040 Crom et al. Dec. 7, 1954 2,738,082 Vernon Mar. 13, 1956 2 906 G12 Rothfuchs et a1. Sept. 29, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICA'IE OE CORRECTION PatentvNm 3o8o647 March 129 v196g,

I Loyal DL74 waeren v i lt is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line l7 forl "scew" read m eoffew m5 line l9` for "shafts" read e shaft m; column 4HI line 7g after "conveyor" insert m having w; line 33q for "for" read from ee; line 67Y for "'of" second ooou'rlfelflceg read w for ma v Signed and seale'. this lst dayJ of October 1963o (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LLADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

2. THE COMBINATION WITH A CONVEYOR HAVING SADDLES SPACED THEREALONG, ADAPTED TO SUPPORT ROLLING-MILL ROLLS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF THE CONVEYOR WITH THEIR NECKS OVERHANGING, OF MEANS FOR PULLING A BEARING CHOCK FROM THE NECK AT ONE END OF A ROLL SO DISPOSED, INCLUDING A CARRIAGE MOVABLE TOWARD AND FROM SAID CONVEYOR FROM A LOCATION AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, POWER MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID CARRIAGE, 